On Oct. 21, we held the second installment of our Black Sci-Fi Book Club, featuring writer and Cincinnati native Dani McClain! She discussed her story “Homing Instinct” in the anthology, Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements. It was an honor to have one of the anthology’s contributors and a hometown girl walking us through her story and what Octavia Butler’s legacy means to her. A small group came out to Sweet Sistah Splash to discuss the story, their interest in speculative fiction, their favorite authors and more.

Think steampunk is just for adults? Think again! Kids can get into steampunk, too! Ofeibea Loveless of Airship Ashanti and the Midwest Black Speculative Fiction Alliance will lead a steampunk character building workshop as part of WordPlay‘s Science Fiction Saturdays on Nov. 21! Students — 6 and up — will learn about steam technology and then work in groups to create narratives for their steampunk characters! Saturday, Nov. 21, noon to 2 p.m., WordPlay Creative Writing Center, 4041 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45223 (Northside). No cost. For more information, contact WordPlay at 513-541-0930 or info@wordplaycincy.org.

October is Black Speculative Fiction Month and next week, the Midwest BSFA is hosting a reading/discussion of Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements with one of the anthology’s contributor’s Dani McClain! We talked to her about her story “Homing Instinct,” the difference between fiction writing and journalism, and defining home on your own terms. Read More